For 10+ years my job has required me to use a minivan to haul huge boxes containing lab instruments. The Dodge Caravan gets 20-25 MPG, can swallow anything, and does not give a false "rugged" look. Although the latest Dodge/Chrylser issue does look like a bread truck.

It also doubles as a pickup...I have had a 275 gallon oil tank in the back, a motorcycle, and 4x8 sheets of plywood...all things no SUV could swallow.

The "read between the lines" in this story is how desperate the dealers are....they will sell at whatever it takes these days.

I have been to Holland. I have ridden my bike from the southern end to the northern tip, i've spent a day playing rollerblade tag with a bunch of 20-somethings in vondelpark, and i've gotten stoned real bad at the Milkweg. but on a recent transfer thru Schipol, at 3AM my-body-time, i really thought i had woken up back home, and was walking thru a classic New Jersey Mega-Mall. The Dutch have fully embraced the American lust for shopping and marketing, and while transfering you can't escape from it.

if you have to xfer thru Schipol, bring your sunglassses.

Question in the same arena: I am in Morocco, on a train from Fez to Casa, which continues on to Marakesh. Can i say i have been on the famous CSNY song title "Train to Marakesh", even though i got off well in advance of Marakesh?

TSA objects to the size of my ziploc bag. it is deemed to be a 1/2 gallon bag, although the items in it only occupy maybe 1/3 of the volume. security says i must either trash the bag and it's contents, or check my luggage. i ask for the ziploc bag...."wathca' gonna do with it?".."i am going to make it inot a quart bag"..."how ya gonna do that?".."i am going to rip it in half with my bare hands, or would you prefer to lend me a sharp object for 10 seconds to make it a clean cut?". that got me throw out of line, and Ms. TSA paraded me out to the terminal while holding my oversize ziploc in the air for all other travelers to see, like a trial lawyer displaying evidence.

i went to the other side of the terminal, ripped the bag in half, and got thru no problem. i passed behind the original screening station, and was tempted to give a "nah-nah" to Ms. TSA trial lawyer, but thought better.